I've been feeling kind of odd over the past couple of days. It must have something to do with the weather. To be more precise, Saturday's weather. Me and TheWife™ went on the hunt for used antique windows at a salvage yard. We found more than enough. Enough that we had to drive back in the Jeep with the top down. No big deal, except that somehow we neglected to bring sunscreen AND hats. I think my brain got cooked.

Anyhoo, there's a very good (if odd) selection of new stuff and reissues coming out today. I'm going to buy it all, put on the first disc, lay down on the floor, and stare up at the ceiling.

Henry Kaiser –Invite the Spirit (Tzadik)/Avant

Henry Kaiser (and his guitar) hangs comfortably in a variety of free-ish contexts: from country folk to skronk to whatever the heck this is. The Tsadik website describes this remastered and unabridged recording as "free improvisation meets the Korean shamanistic tradition". I'll take a chance on that.

John Fahey –Fare Forward Voyagers (Takoma)/Folk

The man who played impossible acoustic guitar. Also the man that gave Leo Kottke his first record deal. That is more than enough to pick up every Fahey reissue for the rest of my days.

Matthew Shipp –Piano Vortex (Thirsty Ear)/Jazz

Shipp in a trio format with the electronic elements left at home. Don't get me wrong, I have thoroughly enjoyed much of the sonic weirdness presented by the Thirsty Ear Blue Series. Still, it'll be nice to hear a more unadorned Shipp at the piano.

Sonny Rollins –The Bridge (Audiophile)/Jazz

This was an odd, pianoless lineup for Sonny. It featured Jim Hall on guitar, one of the best choices Rollins ever made.

Various Artists –Baby Goes Hair Metal (Baby Goes)/Rock

I'm not actually buying this disc. I'll be happy to settle for the absurdity of the thing. It's children's lullaby versions of Hair Metal songs. No, I am not kidding.

Willie Nile –Beautiful Wreck of the World (MVD Audio)/Rock

This one's been out of print for a while and the reissue will find a good home on my shelf. Nile is one of those musical talents who does not deserve the "un" in "unsung."

Lyle Lovett and his Large Band-It's Not Big It's Large (Lost Highway)/Rock

Sixteen people in one room, let the tapes roll. Large is the word.

Heaven & Hell –Live from Radio City Music Hall (Steamhammer)/Rock

The reunited Heaven & Hell-era Black Sabbath lineup got together and played a few shows. While my heart is still with the first four Black Sabbath albums (a quartet of recordings tough to beat in the metal world), the Dio years were also something special

The Tubes –Remote Control (American Beat)/Rock

Completion Backward Principle is probably The Tubes most famous record, but Remote Control had a lot to offer as well. Ah, I remember seeing The Tubes on the Completion Backward tour. "TV Is King" featured the destruction of more than a few television sets. A good time was had by all.

Mark, make sure you do rest and feel better soon! Thanks again for compiling this list every week, even if it does push me to go out and spend money I don’t have. I know it’s a lot of work, but your readers appreciate it.

Mat Brewster

Whoa, that Lyle disk slipped right past me. I hope I can find some place to download it. Yeah yeah, I know it is a sin and all but it isn’t like there is a Chinese Tower Records nearby. And you can bet I’ll actually buy the disk once we get to the states.

Didn’t you promise to send me a copy of the first Black Sabbath album? Too bad you didn’t send it then for it is going to be a large shipping fee now 😉

http://www.lookoutforhope.com Tom Johnson

How the hell did I miss that Shipp album?! I’ve been keeping up with several new-releases lists and didn’t see that. Damn. Well, another one goes on the list . . .

http://daslob.blogspot.com/ Pico

Frisell’s Floratone has been out for two weeks now and you still hadn’t picked it up yet? Tsk, tsk ;&)